My early bird daughter was able to capture some amazing lightning shots this morning. In another part of the city a bolt struck our friend’s home, thankfully leaving them mostly shaken, some home damage… but not without a home today. We celebrate this and share the incredible power here, thanks to a simple Ipod and a dedicated young photographer.
Here is tip #2…when photographing outdoor nature shots, experiment with the background. These pictures were taken on the same shoot. The above shot is set in flower mode, to slightly blur the background.
This one was shot in standard mode, but I moved low enough on the ground to capture the blue sky behind the daffodil. With flowers, it is always worth trying to capture the sky when it is bright outside. Remember…these are all with a simple point and shoot. Most cameras can provide interesting shots when set up well.
A few years ago I started capturing “things” on film. They seem like not much to look at perhaps, but they will be. Right now I am sitting at my desk with the window opened. I hear the breeze and birds singing, the warmth of the summer humidity hints it is about time to close up, but for now I relish this moment. It may be hard to put those things in pictures, but there is so much you can see when you look purposefully, that can come together in a way that reminds you of this season. Here is an example, I once did a page all about the color green. The pictures alone seemed random, but together it works!
Some ideas you can start with? Fresh fruit and vegetables, kids playing in water, birds, close ups of nature, stack of summer reading books, watering can, bare feet, people napping, clouds and sunlight, doing yardwork, gardens—whatever it is that makes you smile will be a memory worth capturing. Pictures are wonderful mental vehicles. Here are a few that make me smile…
